Frequently Asked Questions

Duke University's
Fuqua School of Business

100 Fuqua Drive
Box 90120
Durham, NC 27708-0120 USA

Tel +1.919.660.7700
Fax +1.919.684.2818




General Questions

How do the joint degree programs work? 
The joint degree programs are really concurrent degree programs. However, there is a reduction in the number of credits required for graduation from each program (65 credits at Fuqua for joint degree students; 79 credits for regular MBA students). As a result, you will have fewer elective choices in each program, but will take more courses overall and receive two separate degrees. Note: Because it is a joint venture, you cannot receive one degree without receiving the other. Should a student fail to complete the requirements for the partner program, they can not receive their degree from Fuqua until they have 1) completed the requirements for graduation from the joint degree program, or 2) completed the normal Fuqua requirements for graduation.
When should I apply for both programs? 

Most prospective students apply for both programs simultaneously. If that is the case, and the student is admitted to both, they will be granted a year's deferral from one program in order to begin the other. However, not all applicants will be accepted into both programs when applying simultaneously, and in this situation would reapply when they are already enrolled in one of the programs. In addition, some applicants may not decide to apply for a joint degree until they are enrolled in one of the schools at Duke. In order to complete a joint degree program, the applicant must apply and be admitted in order to matriculate to the second program with at least two years remaining in the total joint degree program (e.g. apply and be admitted by the end of the first year for the MEM/MBA, a three-year joint degree program, and by the end of the second year for the JD/MBA, a four-year joint degree program).

*Please note that there is no guarantee of admission for students already enrolled one program at Duke – each program has their own admissions criteria and the applicant will need to be accepted into each program individually based on those criteria and their merits.

Which program should I start with? 
In general, it is probably best to start the other half of the joint degree before coming to Fuqua. Joint MD/MBA students must complete two years at the Medical School before enrolling at Fuqua. As a joint degree candidate, students do not have access to the full range of services (computing, career services, etc.) in the partner program until they are registered in that degree program.
How does the scheduling between the partnering programs work? 

The structure of the Fuqua program demands all of your time during your first year with us. Most of our other partner programs also expect the students' full participation during the first year of the program. In general--

  • students spend their first year in the non-Fuqua program, 
  • the second year at Fuqua (except MD students and some JD students who elect to start at Fuqua after their second year in Law), 
  • and the remaining time until graduation split between the two partnering programs.
How do I design my program? 
There are many different possible solutions to fitting the two degrees into the required time frame (three years for most of our joint degree programs, four years for the JD/MBA and five years for the MD/MBA). Part of that scheduling will depend on whether or not students are able to exempt any of the core required courses and when the electives they want to take are scheduled, etc. It's best to lay out a rough plan but to realize that it needs to be flexible.
What types of career resources are available to joint degree students? 
As Duke MBA students, joint degree candidates have full access to all of Fuqua's career management services as well as any services provided by the other school in which they are enrolled.
Can students pursuing one degree switch to a joint degree program? 
Yes, students already enrolled in one program may submit an application for another school. However, admissions standards for each program vary.
How many credits and courses are required to complete a joint degree?  
Joint degree students must complete 65 credit hours at Fuqua to earn The Duke MBA. The credits required for the second degree vary by program.
Will my interest in the joint program be considered by each admissions office? 
You should express your interest in enrolling in a joint degree program when you complete either application. Admissions officers at both schools will take this information into account when making their admissions decisions.
How do I apply to a joint degree program? 
  • Applications for all joint degree programs with Fuqua are due by either Fuqua’s Round 1 or Round 2 deadline. 
  • The JD-MBA (concurrent degree program with Fuqua and Duke Law) program has a combined application this year. Prospective students applying to both programs concurrently, as well as those who are currently in one of the programs and applying for the other program in order to complete the JD-MBA, should complete only the JD-MBA application, and not the independent MBA or LAW applications. The JD-MBA application can be found at www.lsac.org. Applicants must take and report their scores for both the LSAT and the GMAT. 
  • For all other joint degree programs at Duke, the prospective student must complete the application and all related processes for each school independently. In special cases, the GRE may be accepted in place of the GMAT. Please contact the Office of Admissions via e-mail if you would like to be considered for the joint degree program based on your GRE scores.